Electrically-propelled vehicle.



No. 764,020. PATENTED JULY 5, 1904.

R. THAYER. Y

BLEGIRIGALLY PROPELLED VEHICLE.

APPLIUATIGN FILED APR. 11, 1904.

No MODEL. 4 SHBBTSJSHEBT 1.

WIT'NESS'ES: KNVENTOR:

No. 764,020. PATENTED JULY 5k, 1904.

R. THAYBR.

ELECTRIGALLY PROPELLED VEHICLE APPLICATION FILED APR.11, 1904.

NO MUDEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Flag

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5 15 j 5f 2b 5K1 Flair/ WITNESSES: l INVENTOR; //u 5MM A31/.55541. /myf;

My W/ No. 764,020. 'PATBNTED JULY 5, 1904.

R. THAYBR.

ELBCTRICALLY PROPBLLED VEHICLE.

'APPLICATION FILED APB. 11. 1904.

FJLGJHZ WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

PATENTED JULY 5, .1904.

4 SHEETS-sum1' 4.

R. THAYER. v BLBGTRIGALLY PROPELLED VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED APB.. 11. 1904.

No MODEL.

WITN ESS ES:

UNITED STATES Patented July 5, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRlCALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 764,020, dated July 5,1904;;

Appncaaou tied April 11, 1904.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LRUssELL THAYER, of Philadelphia, in the State ofPennsylvania,have invented certain new and useful Improvements inElectrically-Propelled Vehicles, whereof the following is aspecification, reference being had to lthe accompanying drawings.

My improvements are particularly applicable to established municipalelectric-railway systems or trolley-lines, which under ordinaryconditions are limited to passenger traffic at slow speed, determined bythe delays incident to the discharge of passengers at intersectingstreets and to temporary obstruction of the tracks by other vehiclesthan the trolley-cars; and it is the principal object of this inventionto provide means whereby a system of the character described can be madeto operate, in

addition to the slowly-moving cars, a series of vehicles which, althoughnormally occupying the same tracks as said cars and deriving theirmotive power from the same supply system, shall be capable of more rapidprogress than said cars and without interfering therewith. Ashereinbefore described, my invention comprises an automobile providedwith an electric motor and a storage battery constructed and arranged totraverse the railway-tracks of an overhead-trolley supply system withsaid motor in operative connection therewith and to traverse a'tracklessroad-bed independently of said trolley system with said motor inoperative connection with said battery, the arrangement being such thatduring the normal traverse of the vehicle with its motor in connectionwith the trolley system its battery is also in connection with thetrolley system and arranged to be charged thereby. Therefore saidvehicle upon being blocked by other traffic on the tracks of the systemfrom which it derives its motive power can digress from the latter uponthe trackless roadway or streetsurface, pass the obstruction, and returnto the tracks to resume its traverse of the latter in operativeconnection with the trolley supply system. i

The operation of automobiles of the peculiar kind contemplated uponordinary railwaytracks and in operative connection with an ordinaryoverhead-trolley supply system is have all of the advantages ofindependent automobility which are characteristic of ordinary cabs,eXpress-wagons, and similar vehicles propelled by any known means. Forinstance, the peculiar vehicles herein contemplated may be devoted tothe use of passengers paying a higher rate than that required for theordinary trolley-car service for the more rapid and direct service ofsuch veh-icles, due to their capacity to leave the tracks and utilizerailways which otherwise are not in communication with each other andnot capable of conveying ordinary cars from one to the other and theirfurther capacity to proceed beyond the limits of suchtracks. Of coursesuch automobiles may also be utilized to rapidly deliver passengersbaggage and other freight, such as packages from department storesto-places remote from the tracks of the trolley system, with anelectrical equipvment upon said vehicles much less weighty, complicated,and costly than that required for ordinary electrically propelledautomobiles, the storage-battery equipment required by my vehicles beingessentially different from that of an ordinary automobile for the reasonthat the improved vehicles derive their motive power continuously-anddirectly from the railway system,eXcept for the minor intervals when itis necessary for them to digress therefrom, which digressions representbut a small fraction of the-total mileage of said vehicles. Y I,

The embodiment of my invention hereinafter described also includescertain adjunctive features--for instance, means carried by theautomobile aforesaid whereby a trolley-pole to engage the overheadsupply-main,

IOO

and contact devices to engage the subjacent railway-tracks arecooperatively connected, so as to be contemporaneously shifted to andfrom operative position under the control of the chauffeur, alaterally-adjustable support for said lower contact devices, permittingtheir operative connection with the railway-tracks while thevehicle-supporting wheels are traversing the adjoining tracklessroad-bed, and peculiar supporting-wheels for said vehicle, comprisingflanges adapted to make electrical contact with the rails of the trolleysupply system, and tires of insulating material which uphold the vehicleupon a trackless road-bed. Said embodiment of my invention also includes controlling mechanism adapted to make the necessary connections tooperate the vehicle-motor directly in circuit with the railway systemand independently of the storage battery, while simultaneously charging1the storage battery, and to operate the motor in connection with thestorage battery independently of the railway system.

As the ordinary trolley-railway supply-circuit is operated at a pressureof five hundred volts, aform of my invention, hereinafter described,includes a motor adapted to operate at that pressure in connection withsaid system and another motor arranged to be operated at a pressure ofone hundred and twenty volts or less in connection with thestoragebattery.

My invention comprehends the various novel features of construction andarrangement hereinafter more definitely specified.

In the drawings, Figure I is a side elevation of an automobileconveniently embodying my improvements, the chassis being shown invertical section. Fig. H is a plan view of the chassis shown in Fig. I.Fig. III is a plan view showing a modified form of chassis. Fig. 1V is aside elevation showing the trolley-pole and its connections ininoperative position. Fig. V is an edge view showing the detailedconstruction of one of the parallel lever-arms and its connections bywhich the adjustable contact-wheels are supported in the form of myinvention shown in Fig. IH. Fig. Vl is a diagram showing the wiringconnections of the electrical controller. Figs. VII to X, inclusive, arewiring diagrams, respectively, showing the electrical connectionscorresponding with the four positions of the controllei` toward theleft-hand side of Fig. VI, rendering the motor operative in connectionwith the battery under different conditions. Figs. Xl, XII, XIII, andXIV are wiring diagrams showing the electrical connections correspondingwith the four positions of the controller toward the right-hand side ofFig. VI, rendering the motor operative and charging the storagebatteryin connection with the railway system under different conditions.Fig. XV is a fragmentary sectional View showing a modified form ofvehicle-supporting wheel. l

Referring to Figs. l and H, the vehiclebody 1 is provided with rearsupportingwheels 2 3, whose axle 4 is mounted for vrotation in thebearing-boxes 5 in the frame or chassis 7. Said wheels 2 and 3 arerespectively provided with internal gears 9 and 10, engaged by therespective pinions 12 and 13 upon the alined shafts 14 and 15 of the twomotors 16 and 17, which are connected by differential gearing 18, whichmay be of any convenient form. Said motors and gearing are suitablysupported by said axle 4 and chassis 7, as indicated in Fig. Il.

The front supporting-wheels 19 and 20 are respectively mounted inoperative relation with the knuckle-levers 22 23, which turn upon therespective pivots 25 and 26 in the bearings 29 and 30 at the extremitiesof the front axle 28, which is stationary in the chassis 7. Saidknuckle-levers 22 and 23 are connected by the pivots 31 with thecross-bar 32, which is provided with the rigid arm 33, operativelyengaged with the lever 35, mounted upon the lower end of the shaft 36 ofthe steering-wheel 37. As shown in Fig'. I, said shaft 36 isconveniently supported in the bearing-bracket 39 beneath thevehicle-body A1 and in the bearing-bracket 40, which extends beneath thechauffeurs seat 42.

The wheels 45, which are designed to make electrical contact with therailway-tracks 46, are mounted to rotate upon the axle 47, which isprovided with springs 43 and 49, respectively interposed between thecollars 50 and 51 on said shaft 47 and the adjacent ends of the arms 52and 53, carried by the rock-shaft 55, so that, although said axle 47 isnormally maintained in laterally central position with respect to thechassis 7, it is capable of shifting toward either side thereof with thewheels 45, so that the latter do not bindwhen traversing a curved track.Said rock-shaft 55 is mounted to oscillate in the bearings 58, fixedonthe chassis 7, and is provided with the two vertical arms 60, whoseupper ends are yieldingly connected by the springs 62 and 63,respectively, at the front and rear thereof, with the front cross-bar 64and rear cross-bar 65 of the frame 66, which latter is mounted to slidelongitudinally upon the parallel bars 67 of the chassis 7. Saidslide-frame 66 is arranged to be shifted to raise and lower saidcontact-wheels 45 by the link 69, which is pivoted at 70 upon said frameand pivoteol at its opposite end 71 upon the end of the leverarm 73,which extends from the vertical rockshaft 74. As shown in Fig. I, saidshaft 74 is mounted to oscillate in the brackets 75 and' 7 6, attachedto the under side of the vehicle- `body 1, and is provided with thelever-arm 78,

connected by the link 79 with the lower end of the operating-lever 80,which is fulcrumedin IOO IIO

. to oscillate.

. the sector 89, mounted on said footboard 88.-

Said shaft 74 is provided at its upper end with the lever-arm 90, which,as shown in Fig. II, is connected by thelink 91 to the iiexibleconnectors 93 and 94, which extend around sheaves 95, and through thevertically-disposed tubes 96 to the links 97, which depend from thetrunnions 98, projecting from the opposite sides of the sleeve 99,wh-ich latter is mounted to reciprocate vertically upon the standard101. Said standard 101 is secured by its baseplate 102 upon the topframe 108 of the vehicle-body 1 and is provided at its top with thebifurcated bearing 104, which is mounted to rotate thereon and supportsthe pivot 105,

upon which the trolley-pole 106 is mounted Said pole 106 is providedatits upper end with the trolley-wheel108 for electrical connection withthe .overhead supplymain 109, and said pole 106 is arranged to be raisedand lowered to and from said main by means of theaflexible connectorcomprising the spring 111, which is `attached at its lower. end to' thesleeve 99, and the chain 1.12, which extends from the upper end of saidspring to the lug 118 on the hub of said pole.

rlhe construction above described, including the manual Voperating-lever80, is such that when said lever is thrust forward, as indicatedl inFig. I, the contact-wheels 45 are depressed into electrical contact withthe railway-tracks 46which are electrically connected with one side ofIthe current-supply system, and the trolley-pole 106is-contemporaneously uplifted to engage its wheel 108 in electricalcontact with the overhead supply-main 109, -where it may be retained bythe engagement of the latch-lever 86 in a notch 88 of the sector 89.Upon release of the latch-lever 86 and'reverse movementof said levertoward the chauffeurs seat 42 the contact-wheels 45 are uplifted andthe'trolley-pole 106 lowered con-` temporaneously to the positions shownin dotted lines in Fig. I, wherein the vehicle is free to leave thetracks 46 and traverse a trackless road-bed, upon which it is propelledby the motor in operative connection with the storage battery 114, whosecells are conveniently supported beneath the .vehicle-body 1 in thecasing 115, as shown in Fig. I.

In some suburban extensions of municipal trolley systems therailway-tracks project so far above the road-bed as to render themdiflicult of access for the supporting-wheels of my improved vehicle,and therefore 1 contemplate providing laterally-adjustable means toconnect said vehicle with such trackswithout engagement ot' thevehicle-supporting wheels thereon. For instance,-the trolley-pole 106'may be deflected `laterally upon its swiveled support, so as to properlylengage the over.

head supply-main 109 andthe tracks be en-A gaged by thelaterally-adjustable axle 116 and contact-wheels 117 (shown in Figs. IIIand V) substituted for the wheels 45 and the axle 47, above described.Said axle 116 is mounted in the bearing-boxes 118 in the end housings119 of the frame 120, and said boxes are providedupon opposite sideswith springs, as shown in Fig. V, so that the wheels 117 may yield uponencountering any obstruction upon the tracks without detriment to theirsupporting connections. Said frame 120 is supported for lateral movementby the parallel levers 121 and 122, whose rear ends are connectedtherewith by the pivots 123 and whose front ends are connected by thepivots 124 with the rock-shaft 125, which latter is otherwise similar tothe rock-shaft 55. (Shown in Fig. II.) Said lever 122 being providedwith the arm 126, said frame 120, together with the contact-wheels 117,may be shifted laterally in either direction by the link 127, whichlatter may be operated by a vertically-disposed lever underA control ofthe chauffeur and similar to the `-lever 80, above described.

It is to be understood that the motors 16 and 17 above described, may beeach adapted to operate under two hundred andl iifty voltsV pressure inseries in connection with the trolley system and in multiple inconnection with 9 5 the battery 114. However, in `view of the difticultyin insulating storage batteries under` ordinary conditions it isundesirable to operate them at a pressure above one hundred andtwenty-fivevolts, and therefore I prefer to employ the arrangement vhereinafter described, wherein the motor 16 is adapted to operate at thefull pressure of an ordinary trolley system--viz., live hundredvolts-and the motor .17 is adapted .to operate at apres-` sure of onehundred and twenty volts or less in connection 'with vthe storage`battery 114. l Said arrangement'is such that an auxiliaryl resistanceis included in the circuit with the storage `battery during the chargingof the latter by connection'with the trolley system, and said motor 17is excluded from the battery-circuit and also from the activemotorcircuit during the charging operation, and when the motor 16 andbattery 114 are disconnected from the trolley supply system the motor 16remains idle and the battery is con-v IOO nected in operative relationwith said moterminals in said figure, which are carried by said shaft129. The group of contacts shown at the right-hand side ot' said igurecomprises four diierent points or regions which are designed to bebrought successively into electrical contact with said stationaryterminals and arc indicated in Fig. VI by the respective vertical dottedlines 151, 152, 153, and 154.

The group of movable contacts shown at the left-hand side of Fig. VIcomprises four diiferent points or regions which are designed to bebrought successively into electrical contact with said stationaryterminals and are indicated by the respective vertical dotted lines 161,162, 163, and 164.

Referring to Fig. VI, it may be noted that the upper terminal 131 isconnected with the trolley 108, engaged with the overhead supply-main109, and the terminal 132 is connected with the contact-wheels 45beneath the vehicle. The tield 166 and armature 167 are components ofthe motor 16, and the field 17 O and armature 171 are components of themotor 17. The variable resistance 173 is arranged to be included incircuit with either motor-field to vary the current supplied thereto.VThe resistance 174 is arranged to be ineluded in circuit with thebattery 114 to minimiZe the current delivered to the latter during itscharging operation, but is excluded from the battery-circuit during thedischarging operation.

Itis to be understood that Fig. XI shows the circuit relations of themotor 16, battery 114, &c., when the contacts on the vertical line 151register with the terminals 131, &c. Similarly Figs. XII, XIII, and XIVshow the circuit relations corresponding to the registration with saidterminals of the movable contacts on the respective lines '152, 153, and154.

Fig. VII shows the circuit relations ot` the storage battery 114, motor17, &c., when the contacts on the line 161 register with the terminals131, &c. Similarly Figs. VIII, IX, and X show the circuit relationscorresponding to the registration with said terminals of the contacts onthe respective lines 162, 163, and 164.

In all of the positions of the controller illustrated in Figs. XI toXIV, inclusive, the motor 16 is in operative relation with the trolleysupply system and the storage battery 114 is connected to be chargedthereby. In all ot' the positions of the controller illustrated in Figs.VII to X, inclusive, the vehicle apparatus is disconnected from thetrolley system and the storage battery 114 is connected to dischargethrough the motor 17, and thereby propel the vehicle.

It may be noted that whereas in Figs. XI to XIV, inclusive, the motor 16is arranged to propel the vehicle under pressure of iive hundred voltsfrom the trolley supply system in Figs. VII to X, inclusive, the motor17 is arranged to propel the vehicley under a less pressure, thearrangement shown in Figs. VII and VIII providing for a pressure ofsixty-four volts and the arrangement shown in Figs. IX and X providingfor a pressure of one hundred and twenty volts.

It is to be understood that my invention is not limited to theparticular controlling means or arrangement of circuits above described.For instance, the apparatus preferably includes means to eiect thereverse rotation of the motors and an electrically-actuated brake.

Although it is desirable under some conditions to make electricalconnection with the railway-tracks 46 solely by means of thecontact-wheels 45 or 117, constructed and arranged as above described,it is to be understood that other means may be employed for thatpurpose. For instance, I have indicated in Fig. XV a wheel 176, whichcomprises a metallic liange or tire 177, adapted to make electriccontact with the tracks, so as to establish operative connection withthe trolley system, but having an insulating-tire 17 8, convenientlyformed of rubber, which overhangs the track-tread when the flange 177 isoperatively engaged therewith, but which may serve to support thevehicle and insulate it from a trackless road-bed traversed by it.Moreover, although it is convenient to provide my improved vehicle withmeans to mechanically connect the overhead-trolley pole and subjacentelectrical connecting devices, so as to contemporaneously elfect theirmanual operation, it is to be understood that such mechanism is notessential to the operation ot' my invention, and it is to be furtherunderstood that various 'modifications may be made in the constructionand arrangement of my invention without departing from its essentialfeatures.

I claim- 1. An automobile provided with an electric motor and' a storagebattery; having wheels constructed and arranged to traverse the tracksof a railway supply system, with said motor in operative connection withsaid system, and, to traverse a trackless road-bed, independently ofsaid system, with said motor in operative connection with said battery,substantially as set forth.

2. An automobile provided with an electric motor and a storage battery,having wheels constructed and arranged to traverse the tracks ot' arailway supply system, with said motor in operative connection with saidsystem and said battery connected to be charged thereby, and, totraverse a trackless roadbed, independently of said system, with saidmotor in operative connection with said battery, substantially as setforth.

3. An automobile provided with an electric motor and a storage battery,having wheels constructed and arranged to traverse the tracks of arailway supply system, with Said motor IOO IIO

in operative connection with said system, and, to traverse a tracklessroad-bed, independently of said system, with said motor in operativeconnection with said battery; and, manuallyoperative means arranged tocontemporaneously transfer the operative circuit connections of saidmotor from said system to said battery, substantially as set forth.

4. In an automobile provided with an electric motor and a storagebattery; constructed and arranged to traverse the railway-tracks of asystem comprising an overhead-trolley supply-main, and to traverse atrackless road-bed independently of said trolley system; a trolleypolearranged to engage said main;'and, ad-

justable means arranged to electrically connect said motor with therailway-tracks, substantially as set forth. Y

5. In an automobile provided with an elec tric motor and a storagebattery; constructed and arranged to traverse the railway-tracks of asystem comprising an overhead-trolley supply-main; and to traverse atrackless roadbed independently of said trolley system; a trolley-polearranged to engage said main; and, an adjustable contact-wheel arrangedto electrically connect said motor withthe railway-tracks, substantiallyas set forth.

6. An automobile provided with an electric motor and a storage battery,having Wheels constructed and arranged toV traverse the tracks of arailway system comprising an overhead-trolley supply-main, and, totraverse a trackless road-bed independently of said trolley system; atrolley-pole arranged to engage said main; and, cooperatively-relatedmeans arranged to electricallyV connect said motor with said overheadmain and railway-tracks,

. substantially as set forth.

7. In an automobile provided with an electric motor and a storagebattery; constructed and arranged to traverse the railway-tracks of asystem comprising an overhead supplymain, and to traverse a tracklessroad-bed independently of said system; a trolley-pole arranged to engagesaid main; a contact-wheel arranged to engage said tracks; and,manually-operative means to raise and' lower said trolley-pole andcontact-wheel, substantially as set forth.

8. In an automobile provided with an electric motor and a storagebattery; constructed and arranged to traverse the railway-tracks of asystem comprising an overhead supplymain, and to traverse a tracklessroad-bed independently of said system; a trolley-pole arranged to engagesaid main; a contact-wheel arranged to engage said tracks; and,manually-operative means connecting said trolleypole and contact-wheelarranged to contemporaneously adjust them, substantially as set forth. V

9. An automobile provided With an electric motor and a storage battery,having Wheels constructed and arranged to traverse the vtracks of arailway supply system, With said motor in operative connection with saidsystem, and said battery connected to be charged thereby and, totraverse a trackless road-bed, independentlyof said system, with saidmotor in operative connection with said battery; an auxiliaryresistance; and, 'means to connect said resistance in circuit with saidbattery during the charging operation and to eliminate said resistancefrom said circuit during the discharging operation, substantially as setforth.

10. An automobile provided with wheels constructed and arranged totraverse the tracks of a railway supply system, and to traverse atrackless road-bed independently of said system; a storage battery; 'aplurality of electric motors; means arranged to alternately effect theoperation of said motors in connection with the supply-mains of saidsystem and in connection with said battery, substantially as set forth.

11. An automobile provided with wheels lconstructed and arranged totraverse the tracks of a railway supply system, and'to traverse atrackless road-bed, independently of said system; a storage battery; twoelectric motors; means arranged to alternately effect the operation ofsaid motors in connection vvith the supsaid trolley system; a storagebattery; twol electric motors; and, 'a manually-operative controller,comprlsmg coperative switching IOO means arranged to alternately effectthe operation of said motors, respectively in connection with thesupply-mains of saidsystem and in connection with said battery,substantially as set forth. I y

13. In an automobile constructed and arranged to traverse therailway-tracks of an overhead-trolley supply system and to traverse atrackless road-bed independently of said system; a storage battery; twoelectric motors, respectively constructed and arranged to operate at4different voltages; and means arranged to alternately effect theoperation said motors, respectively in connection with the supply-mainsof said systemy and in connection with saidl battery, substantially asset forth. Y i

14. In an automobile constructed and arranged to traverse therailway-tracks of an overhead-trolleysupply system and to trav- IIO ersea trackless road -bed independently of said system; a storage battery;two electric motors having alined shafts respectivelyin operativerelation withfopposite supporting- Wheels of said vehicle; differentialgearing connecting said shafts; and, means arranged to alternatelyeffect theoperation of saidmotors, respectively in connection with thesupply-mains 0i said system and in Connection with said battery,Substantially as Set forth.

15. In an automobile Constructed and arranged to traverse therailway-tracks of an overheadtro11ey supply system and to traverse atraekless road-bed independently of Said system; a wheel on said vehiclecomprislng a metaihc Hange arranged to make electrical Contact with oneof sald railway-tracks;

IO and, a tire on said Wheel arranged to insulate it from a tracklessroad-hed traversed by said vehicle, substantially as Set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto Signed Vmy name, at'Phladelphia, inthe State of Pennsylvania, this 29th day of March, 1904.

RUSSELL THAYER.

/Vitnesses: y

ARTHUR E. PAIGE, CLIFTON C. HALLOWELL.

